Atrial fibrillation is a common, potentially preventable cause of disabling stroke in the elderly, particularly in elderly women, resulting from embolism of stasis-precipitated thrombi formed in the left atrial appendage. In 1989, the first randomized clinical trial of anticoagulant therapy in atrial fibrillation showed that warfarin produced a large reduction in ischemic stroke.1 In the ensuing 25 years, more than 40 additional randomized trials have permitted stroke prophylaxis to be importantly refined. It has been a period of remarkable progress in stroke prevention. Here, we discuss selected aspects of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)'s evidence-based guideline update.2
Footnotes
Funding information and disclosures are provided at the end of the article. Full disclosure form information provided by the authors is available with the full text of this article at Neurology.org/cp.
- © 2014 American Academy of Neurology
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- LETTER RE: Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: Commentary regarding the AAN's evidence-based guideline update
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